[Asterisk-Users] Help with GPL license of Asterisk

[Troy Settle]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Spencer
> Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 10:41 AM
> 
> > 1) if your application is not released to a 3rd party, you 
> do not have
> > to make the source available
> 
> This is TRUE.
> 
> > 2) if you build your application as a module that loads into a stock
> > asterisk server, you do not have to disclose your source
> 
> This is FALSE.  Even modules for Asterisk MUST be released under GPL,
> unless you obtain a license to release them outside of GPL 
> from Digium.

Interesting.  The GPL is more parasitic than I had originally thought.

> 
> > 3) if you need to make changes to the core in order for 
> your application
> > to work, you'll need to disclose source for your changes to 
> the core,
> > but not for your application.  This sounds horrid, but it's 
> not too bad,
> > as your simply augmenting the core API and keeping your 
> goodies in the
> > binary only portion of the release.
> 
> This is also FALSE.  You MUST release both the module AND core changes
> unless you obtain license from Digium.  I believe you are 
> confusing the
> "Linus exception" which is an exception for the Linux kernel 
> explicitly
> made by Linus Torvalds, allowing binary only modules to the 
> kernel only.
> 

I was unaware of the 'Linux Exception,' as I'm not a developer, but I
was thinking about how some companies do release binary only modules for
the Linux kernel, and wrongly assumed that this was provided for in the
GPL.

All I can say, is sorry if I mislead anyone, and thank God I'm not a
software developer and don't have to deal with this evil, evil license.

--
  Troy Settle
  Pulaski Networks
  http://www.psknet.com
  540.994.4254 ~ 866.477.5638
  Pulaski Chamber 2002 Small Business Of The Year